Falling into a quieter routine. A routine! One that I will update you on shortly.

For now though, just a quick mention of two events that have been scheduled.

First, there will be a service held for Naomi in Vancouver on Sunday, March 30th at 2pm at the Buddhist Temple located at 220 Jackson Avenue (near downtown).

And second, for those in and around New York, there will be a memorial service celebrating Naomi’s life and work on April 11, 2013 from 4-6PM at the Department of Media, Culture and Communication at NYU — 239 Greene Street. 8th floor.

For anyone who cannot attend either, but would like to do something special to honour Naomi’s memory, please consider one (or both) of the following:

1. A fund has been created in Naomi’s name at the Nanny Angel Network — an organization that provides free, professional relief childcare for mothers with cancer. Donate online or call 416.730.0025.

2. Write down or audio/video record a special memory of/story about Naomi and share it with her son, Nate. This will make for such a precious gift to him in the years to come. You can send your stories and remembrances to Jamie Berthe (jb2621 [at] nyu.edu), Kari Hensley (kari.hensley [at] gmail.com), and/or directly to me, Naomi’s husband, Mitchell Praw (mitchell.praw [at] gmail.com).

Those wishing to make a donations in memory of Naomi, The Nanny Angel Network is an organization that provides free, professional relief childcare for mothers with cancer. These Angels provide support to families throughout treatment, recovery, palliative care and bereavement. Angels. Donations online or call 416.730.0025

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Naomi passed at 1:20AM this morning. Surrounded by her mother, sister, brother and husband (me), she slowly and peacefully wound herself down to a final rest.

Earlier this week I was set to post an update on her condition, the details of which are now moot. By way of overview, this past Friday, Valentine’s Day, it looked as though she would pass. Our doctor and nurses were all but certain. But the day came and went, and Nate’s handing out of Elmo-hearted Valentine’s Day cards to his classmates went undisturbed.

On Monday, Family Day came and went. Family gathered, again brought together by my wife, all while she kept fighting.

Hearts and Family, two things Naomi were sure to stick around for — two things that she always stood for.

And ultimately, what Naomi tried her hardest to avoid dying for.

Mother. Wife. Daughter. Sister. Aunt. Niece. Cousin. Friend. Doctor. Researcher. Teacher. Student. Hero. Warrior. Light. She did everything to her best and with character and thoughtful generosity.

And now she’s off for a well earned rest, after a courageous battle and a far too short, but otherwise gracious, adventurous and love-filled life.

Funeral planning is in progress. Details to be confirmed after the Sabbath, with services likely held on Tuesday. Stay tuned for confirmations and details.

Since my wife last posted, things have changed. I’m writing here to update you to her story, to honour her intentions for Everybodyhearts.com, and to extend my personal thanks for the support this community has offered… the impact of which has been felt beyond measure.

Initial MRI results set our minds at ease ruling out new cancer or infection. Let the countdown to Mexico begin!

Days after those results were delivered, we found ourselves in the Toronto Western emergency room, Naomi in pain, and we all looking for answers. Mexico a-no-go.

Christmas and New Year were spent at the holiday-short-staffed Western.

A spinal tap to test fluid and a head surgery to biopsy the brain and lining were part of the exploration/discovery.

The first week of 2014 set the stage for a post-sinus infection diagnosis. Cancer. Again. This time racing through the brain’s lining.

Naomi moved to the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and began a five-day course of brain radiation during which she suffered a stroke that left her bed-bound.

January 9th Naomi checked in to PMH’s Palliative ward.

Throughout this period I kept family and friends updated via email.

Below is my last update sent on February 7th.Stay tuned here for further updates.

Team,

We’ve been asked to leave the Princess Margaret Hospital.

PMH’s palliative ward is a short-term facility. As per floor and hospital policy, once treatment has been received, patients are expected to move on… either to a hospice, a home or to a final resting place.

At the time of Naomi’s last round of radiation treatment (Jan 6-10) we were told that she was likely to only have days left. The treatment was a medical Hail Mary of sorts intended to buy what would at best be a small window of time. Days turned into weeks. The time we sought to buy was delivered. And now, we’ve overstayed our welcome at the hospital, so we’re out. Moving on up if you will – closer to our home, and to a newer facility.

The treatment worked. We know this not because of follow up scans or tests. There are no more tests or scans on the horizon. There are no more treatment options for Naomi. And so, putting her through the rigorous process of CTs, MRIs and whatnot is no longer on the table… only her comfort and peace matters now. That said, we do know treatment worked. For the past four weeks her pain subsided, her moments of lucidity returned, and now, a full month later, Naomi remains with us… unwilling to leave her circle of loved ones on anyone’s schedule but her own. Naomi.

This past month’s treatment success bought time that so many of us will cherish… an opportunity for goodbyes and moments. A time when friends from the varied walks of Naomi were able to meet, and connect and grieve — through a New Year, a last birthday, a groundhog day — Naomi unlike anyone I’ve ever met brings people together. Even now.

The most valuable thing this month afforded us was to give our Nate an opportunity to develop his own understanding of this horror. I can’t fully articulate how generous a gift this has been. And while sadness most certainly still lies ahead, my son understands so much now and has been given the foundations to build on that understanding in the weeks, months and years ahead.

Nate knows his mother is sick. He knows the prognosis is not good. He knows that she has cancer and that cancer is a very different ‘sick’ than what daddy had last week, and what we all sometimes have (specifically as listed by Nate… bubby and babba and eric and zaidy and jeff and jason and pamela and matthew and mutty and jonathan and farji and lauren…)

Nate will remember the extra time he got to share with mom in hospital, and that he got to say so many more I love yous and goodbyes. As he grows older, he’ll know that he was there for Naomi in her time of greatest need, that he made her cards, gave her unprompted hugs and kisses, and magically made smiles where smiles were otherwise absent and unexpected. Only Nate could have done this.

One week ago, while visiting Naomi in her hospital room Nate asked for music and kicked off a most epic dance party for Naomi, Naomi’s mom and me. He twirled vigorously. I killed it, obviously. Saeko looked on with grandmotherly approval… and Naomi threw her one able-to-move, fuck-you-cancer arm, way up into the air… and waived (or pulsated it somewhat uncomfortably) like she just didn’t care. This son carries forward his mother’s torch. Only Nate.

Where does this leave us?

As expected, the effects of the radiation have worn off and the symptoms of the disease are once again on a forward march… likely pissed off at Naomi for having again punched it in its stupid face.

My horrible sinus infection has largely cleared up, and although I’m a little stuffy and still thoroughly exhausted, the sinus pressure is much better. Unfortuntately, I am having some headaches that are worrisome. I’m trying hard to stay calm about them. And I’m still emotionally all over the place. I’ve heard this is normal when treatment ends, that that is when people often start to process everything, forcing all sorts of emotional and psychological work to slog through.

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my diagnosis. How does one mark this type of anniversary? We decided on burritos and naps.

It was a hard day after a hard year.

Every night when I put Nate to sleep, we have a bit of a conversation. He tells me a little bit about his day, painting a fragmented picture of his experience at daycare and at home. Sometimes he says things like, “puzzle,” or sings the ABCs, or explains “lion says ‘roar!'” So last night, feeling reflective, I said to him in a gentle voice:

“You know, Nate, this past year has been a tough one, because Mommy has been sick.”

And he looked at me with earnestness and said, “Chanukah is over! It’s finished!”

And I smiled and said, “Yes, sweetie, it is, but we’ll celebrate again next year.” I get the feeling he really enjoyed Chanukah this year. And then he put his hands on his head and said, “Birthday!” And then he said, “cake!”

“Yes, love, it’s almost your birthday. How old are you going to be?”

“Twoooooooooo!”

So that was it, our big reflective conversation marking the one year anniversary of the diagnosis. Me, looking back at some tough times, and Nate looking forward to happy ones.

Enjoying the Canadian winter at a friend’s cottage. How can you not smile looking at these faces?

After a few weeks of feeling great, I have been hit with a pretty horrible head cold. Yesterday, I woke up with so much pressure in my head that I was worried it was a sign of infection from the brain surgery or the radiation procedures. I had a mild fever as well, so I went to emergency. (After both procedures, my doctors said that I should go to emergency if I had a fever, because it’s a sign of infection.) So, at 5:30am yesterday, I went to emergency. Six hours and several tests later, the doctors confirmed that I had a bad case of a sinus cold, which I guess is good news. So now I’m resting and drinking lots of fluids, blowing my nose and hoping this passes as quickly as possible. Patience. Patience. Patience.

In case you were wondering what a CT scan of a sinus cold looks like.

Friends, I won’t lie, this sucks. But I suppose it’s also a reminder that people get sick sometimes with things that are not life-threatening, and that’s part of life too. And you just have to suck it up and get through it. My body has been through a lot this past year, and there is a part of me that is in awe of how it’s handling everything. It is worn down, but not broken, and it is doing it’s best to work through this horrible cold.

Take care of yourself, friends. I’ve heard that there is a bad virus is going around.

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It’s been one week since radio-surgery, and today is a good day. It was terrifying and horrible, but it’s done! The scariest part was definitely the attaching of the frame (which they call a halo). I cried the whole way through. The doctors offered encouragement, and Mitchell held my hand. I’m not going to go into detail here, but it was the scariest thing I’ve had to do. That part of the day lasted about 15 minutes. Then we had a long wait, and then radiation took about 80 minutes. The radiation part was painless and fine. Then they removed the halo, which was also scary, but quick. They kept me in the hospital for observation for about an hour, and gave me pain medication and steroids (to control the swelling in my head), and then I got to go home.

Today, I am feeling good. I am so happy to have this behind me, and to have the good results from the scans. The extreme fear has dissipated into extreme relief and gratitude (although the fear lingers too). I have two visible, little marks on my forehead from where the pins were put in. They look a little like intense bee stings, but they should heal quickly and hopefully will not leave any traces behind. I am still on a lot of medication, and will continue to be so for about two months or so. And it is likely that I will be on anti-seizure medication for the rest of my life (boo! for daily medication forever, but yay! for decreased risk of seizures!). My face is still swollen and I would love to get a proper haircut. Now, I’m hoping to focus on rest and health – healthy eating, exercise, and time with family and friends. Thank you, everyone, for everything. Today is a good day.